Too soon?

I am not here to talk about what’s wrong and what’s right. I am sorry for all the families that lost their loved ones in the Connecticut tragedy. This might be too soon for some people but I honestly think that this IS a good opportunity to talk about the public being able to own firearms.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but I think the US is probably the only developed country that legally allows the public to own guns and be able to keep them at their own properties. This, I think, is stupid. It is interesting to see how Americans react to this tragedy compared to people around the world. Some Americans believe that this IS the reason why the public should own firearms, to protect themselves. But to others, this IS the reason why they shouldn’t. To people around the world, this tragedy could’ve been prevented and that Americans have themselves to blame. They think that the general public is able to bear arms is just an absurd idea. What I don’t understand is, if the rest of the developed countries in the world are able to function without privately owned and kept firearms, why can’t US do the same? News reported that the all the victims were found with multiple gunshot wounds. Hypothetically speaking, if the attacker wanted to attack, he is going to do it either way. However, if he could only find a knife to do so, I’m pretty sure the amount of damage he could cause would be significantly lower. The children might have a higher survival rate if they were to be attacked by, say a machete or a knife or a sword. I don’t think anyone is capable of handling such a powerful weapon and that is why people, such as law enforcement, have to go through rigorous training. In UK, only a small amount of police officers carry guns and most of them even preferred to stay unarmed!

With so many studies showing that a high number of gunshot victims in the States is the result of children playing with their parents’ guns, shouldn’t people realize it’s just not good to own firearms themselves?! No matter how ‘safe’ you lock away your guns, we are humans, and we make mistakes. You will forget to lock that drawer you hold your guns. You will forget to put your gun away. Isn’t it better to leave it at the shooting range to minimize the chances of someone else getting to it? I’m pretty sure if a robber comes into your home with a gun, you would be shot dead before you could get to your own gun to protect yourself. And even if you did manage to shoot the robber, do you know how much you need to prove in court to actually justify you shooting that person? Self defense isn’t as easy as it sounds.

I personally think that this gun control issue is a vicious cycle. If the number of firearms in circulation is lower, the chances of someone being able to obtain one will be lower and that the crime someone can act on with a gun will be lower which leads to lower casualty. Your Second Amendment was created in the 18^th century. We’re certainly not living in the 18^th century anymore and I’m pretty sure you have way better technology to protect yourself, such as a phone to call the police, rather than battling it out with the intruder yourself. I understand that if someone is determined to obtain a piece of firearm, s/he will be able to do so no matter what law you put in, but the chances of one actually being able to get one will be significantly lower.